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Healing of the Nobleman’s Son John 4:46-54
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Jesus in Cana. Heals the Nobleman’s Son at Capernaum. Text: John 4:46-54, 46. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48. “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, “ Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49. The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50. Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53. Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed. 54. This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. Commentary: I. Jesus returned to Cana where he had turned water to wine. A. Jesus did not want to be simply known as a miracle worker, but rather as the Savior of the world.
Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.
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B. John describes only seven miracles in detail although references are made to many others having been performed by Jesus during his ministry. John 21:25, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” II. The healing of the Nobleman’s son was the second great sign mentioned by John. John 4:54, “This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” A. “Nobleman” is a generic term. We do not know specifically who he was nor his exact office/title. B. The Nobleman’s son was at the point of death. He begged Jesus to heal his son. C. The Nobleman had faith that Jesus could heal his son. D. However, the Nobleman was not what he should have been in regard to faith because Jesus told him that he was included in the group of Galileans who would not believe unless they saw signs and wonders. E. All miracles and wonders were signs of Christ’s deity. They were causes of amazement. F. The Nobleman was urgent and insisted that Jesus come right then to heal his son before the son expired. G. The Nobleman was most interested in his son. Of this there can be no doubt.
Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.
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H. Jesus did not have to be physically present to produce healing. Jesus said, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” I. The Nobleman believed Jesus and went his way. He left in far better condition than when he arrived. It can be so with us! J. The Nobleman returned to his home in Capernaum some sixteen (16) miles from Cana. K. As he approached his home servants advised him that his son lived/was mending. L. The son had begun to improve (fever decreased) at the seventh hour, the very hour at which Jesus had told the Nobleman that his son lived. M. This was likely Roman time or 7:00 p.m. This would explain the overnight delay and the next day arrival of the Nobleman at his home in Capernaum. John variably used Roman and Jewish time in his Gospel. N. This caused the father to have an even stronger faith and his entire house (family and servants) also believed. O. This father led his house to faith in Christ. P. This was the second Galilean miracle described by John. Jesus had already performed numerous other miracles. 1. John 2:23, Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.
Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.
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2. John 3:2, He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3. John 4:45, When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there. Q. Distance was no problem with Jesus in regard to performing miracles!
Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.
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Healing the Nobleman’s Son Questions 1. Once more _____________________ visited __________________ in _______________, where he had turned the _______________ into _______________. 2. A certain _____________________ _____________________ had a _______________ who was sick at _______________. 3. When this ___________________________ heard that Jesus was in _______________, he went to him and _______________ him to _______________ his _______________ who was close to _______________. 4. Jesus said, “Unless you _________________ see _______________ _______________ and wonders, you will never _______________.” 5. How did this statement relate to the royal official’s requests for help for his son? _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 6. Jesus told the nobleman, “You may go. Your _______________ will _______________.” The man took Jesus at his _______________ and _______________.
Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.
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7. While the nobleman was on his way home, his _______________ met him with the _______________ that his _______________ was _______________! 8. The _______________ left the boy _________________ at about the _______________ hour. The father realized that this was the _______________ _______________ Jesus had said, “Your _______________ will _______________.” He and all his _______________ _______________. 10. This was the ______________________ sign reported in the Gospel According to John. 11. In regard to parenting one father told his son, “You may do anything you see me do and hear me say.” Do you agree with this advice? Why or why not? _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.
